Magnetic device with magnetic structure and micro-fluidic structure

Abstract

A magnetic device may include a magnetic structure, a device structure, and an associated circuit. The magnetic structure may include a patterned layer of material having a predetermined magnetic property. The patterned layer may be configured to, e.g., provide a magnetic field, sense a magnetic field, channel or concentrate magnetic flux, shield a component from a magnetic field, or provide magnetically actuated motion, etc. The device structure may be another structure of the device that is physically connected to or arranged relative to the magnetic structure to, e.g., structurally support, enable operation of, or otherwise incorporate the magnetic structure into the magnetic device, etc. The associated circuit may be electrically connected to the magnetic structure to receive, provide, condition or process of signals of the magnetic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetic device comprising:
 a micro-fluidic channel embedded in a multi-layer structure, the micro-fluidic channel comprising an inlet arranged to receive a fluid that includes different types of particles; and 
 a magnetic structure embedded in the multi-layer structure, the magnetic structure positioned about the micro-fluidic channel, and the magnetic structure arranged to produce a magnetic field to cause the different types of particles in the fluid to be separated in the micro-fluidic channel. 
 
     
     
       2. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic structure includes patterned layers on opposing sides of the micro-fluidic channel, the patterned layers comprising material configured to produce the magnetic field. 
     
     
       3. The magnetic device of  claim 2 , further comprising conductive coils electrically connected to the patterned layers. 
     
     
       4. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer structure comprises a plurality of layers on a substrate. 
     
     
       5. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer structure comprises a plurality of substrates. 
     
     
       6. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-fluidic channel is configured to receive the fluid in a first channel portion, wherein the micro-fluidic channel comprises a channel structure that separates the micro-fluidic channel into a plurality of second channel portions, and wherein the second channel portions are arranged to receive respective one of the different types of particles. 
     
     
       7. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic structure comprises a hard magnetic material. 
     
     
       8. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic structure comprises a soft magnetic material. 
     
     
       9. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is the only inlet of the micro-fluidic channel. 
     
     
       10. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture, wherein the magnetic structure is physically aligned with the aperture. 
     
     
       11. The magnetic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second magnetic structure, wherein the multi-layer structure comprises a cap, and wherein the second magnetic structure is on the cap. 
     
     
       12. A method of separating particles, the method comprising:
 receiving a fluid via an inlet of a micro-fluidic channel embedded in a multi-layer structure, wherein the fluid comprises different types of particles; 
 applying, with a magnetic structure positioned about the micro-fluidic channel and embedded in the multi-layer structure, a magnetic field to the fluid in the micro-fluidic channel; and 
 in response to applying the magnetic field, separating the different types of particles in the fluid into respective different channel portions of the micro-fluidic channel. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising driving a conductive coil electrically connected to the magnetic structure to impact the magnetic field. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the magnetic structure comprises two patterned layers on opposing sides of the micro-fluidic channel. 
     
     
       15. A magnetic device comprising:
 a micro-fluidic channel comprising an inlet arranged to receive a fluid that includes different types of particles; 
 a magnetic structure comprising a patterned layer positioned about the micro-fluidic channel, the patterned layer comprising material configured to produce a magnetic field to cause the different types of particles in the fluid to be separated in the micro-fluidic channel, wherein the micro-fluidic channel and the magnetic structure are embedded in a multi-layer structure; and 
 a conductive coil electrically connected to the patterned layer. 
 
     
     
       16. The magnetic device of  claim 15 , wherein the multi-layer structure comprises a plurality of layers on a substrate. 
     
     
       17. The magnetic device of  claim 15 , further comprising a second conductive coil, wherein the magnetic structure comprises a second patterned layer electrically connected to the second conductive coil, and wherein the patterned layer and the second patterned layer are positioned on opposing sides of the micro-fluidic channel. 
     
     
       18. The magnetic device of  claim 15 , further comprising a circuit configured to drive the conductive coil to impact the magnetic field. 
     
     
       19. The magnetic device of  claim 15 , further comprising an aperture, wherein the magnetic structure is physically aligned with the aperture. 
     
     
       20. The magnetic device of  claim 15 , further comprising a cap and a second magnetic structure on the cap.